RISK FACTORS

Posted: October 6, 2009 - 6:01pm

Being female and increasing age are the most important risk factors for breast cancer.

Other important factors that increase a woman's risk for developing breast cancer include certain inherited genetic mutations (BRCA1 and BRCA2), a personal or family history of breast cancer, high breast-tissue density as seen on mammograms, biopsy-confirmed hyperplasia, and a history of high-dose radiation therapy to the chest.

Other risk factors include a long menstrual history, being overweight or becoming obese after menopause, recent use of oral contraceptives, use of postmenopausal hormone therapy, never having children or having one's first child after 30, consumption of one or more alcoholic beverages per day, and being physically inactive.